Refine the critical path with the summary path

The summary path helps you identify tasks that impact the end date of a parent task. 

Who can use this?

Plans:

  • Smartsheet
  • Pro
  • Business
  • Enterprise

To use the summary path switch to Gantt View and activate dependencies.  

Use the summary path to identify the subtasks impacting the end date of their summary (parent) task.

The summary path is a variant of the critical path. It provides a more detailed critical path for a parent task and its subtasks, rather than showing the critical path for the entire sheet. 

The summary path considers all child tasks within its hierarchy.

Summary path in Gantt view

Show or hide the summary path

To show or hide the summary path in Gantt View:

  1. Right-click a parent task.
  2. Select Show Summary Path or Hide Summary Path.
Show summary path option

Once the summary path appears, the orange outlines highlight the tasks in the hierarchy impacting the end date of your parent task.